Belogradchik and its world-famous rocks are once again the scene of a magical spectacle. For five whole weekends – from September 19 to October 19, the city is hosting the fifth edition of the Balloon Fiesta. More than 5,000 tourists are expected to visit the unique event, which transforms one of the most photogenic natural phenomena into a living palette of colours and emotions. The organizers promise an unforgettable experience, in which the magic of flight merges with the ancient energy of the rocks. On this occasion, Belogradchik invites guests from all over the world to see the city and its surroundings from the most impressive possible perspective – beyond the clouds. Evtim Stefanov from the Belogradchik Adventure Center, organizer of the fiesta, points out the uniqueness of this place:

"We are holding a festival with a few balloons, but in a place that is much more beautiful than ordinary places where people just gather with balloons to fly together. Our terrain is rocky, we have forests, we have the most beautiful landscape that one can imagine for ballooning. Flying over the rocks leaves a lasting feeling of something exceptional, especially when illuminated by the sun, as they give indescribable joy of life and leave great impressions in the people who fly over them."

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The flights take place early in the morning or before sunset, with the route determined by the wind speed. Pilots can control the height of the balloon to take advantage of different air currents and thus manage the direction of the flight. Pilots from various European countries have been invited to the event.

"This is the fifth consecutive year, in which we are organizing this festival and on this occasion, for five weekends we will have a balloon fiesta, in which at least five balloons from different countries will fly. We have participants from Spain, from England, a pilot from Slovenia, pilots from Romania and Poland.

People will be able to join both the 60-minute flights over the rocks and the shorter 30-minute flights, which is an innovation this year. And of course, every evening, when the wind allows us, we will have panoramic ascents over the rocks. There will also be concerts and various entertainment events, including games with smaller inflatable balloons."

After enjoying the bird's eye view, be sure to get to know the beauties of the region up close. The Belogradchik Fortress, the "Magura" and "Venetsa" caves, the "St. Trinity" Church are among the most visited sites in the surroundings, where nature and history go hand in hand. The organizers of the fiesta offer jeep safaris, picnics, wine tastings from the region, hiking and other emotions:

"The landscape here and the rocks are a prerequisite for people to discover and see them in different ways. The jeep safari will take you to places you never thought existed. During the adventure picnic, participants must search for food hidden somewhere along the path. So, by collecting food along the way, at some point they will find themselves in front of a table with a tablecloth and chairs, where they can have lunch or dinner. They choose between three different routes, but the best thing is that each of them ends in a fantastic place among the rocks, where the view makes any food the most delicious in the world," Evtim Stefanov says in conclusion.

Read also:

• Belogradchik Rocks – hot-air balloons, wine, bike routes, dragon boats and much more

Author: Veneta Nikolova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: new.adventure-bg.com, Elena Karkalanova, Facebook/ Adventures in Belogradchik